Bala tube-nosed bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bala tube-nosed bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Murina
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| Species: |
balaensis
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The Bala tube-nosed bat (Murina balaensis) is a tiny bat. It lives in Thailand. Sadly, it is a critically endangered animal. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
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Discovering the Bala Bat
This special bat was first found in September 2012. It was a new discovery for scientists! Its closest relative is another bat called Eleryi's tube-nosed bat. The name balaensis comes from the Bala Forest in Thailand. This is the place where this bat was first discovered.
What Does the Bala Bat Look Like?
The Bala tube-nosed bat is very small. It weighs only about 3.5 to 4 grams. That's lighter than a single coin! Its forearms, which are like its "arms," are about 28 to 30.4 millimeters long.
Ears and Fur
Its ears are round and smooth. They measure about 12.3 to 12.8 millimeters long. The ears are brown, with a lighter brown color at the bottom. Inside its ear, there is a small, white part called the tragus. This part is about 7.4 to 7.6 millimeters long.
The fur on its back is a gray color. Some of these hairs have reddish-orange tips. Other hairs have charcoal black tips. Its head, back, tail membrane, and feet have shiny silver-gold hairs. On its belly, the hairs are dark gray at the bottom. But they are whitish-gray at their tips.
Other Features
The bat's thumbs are quite long. They measure about 8.2 to 8.8 millimeters. It also has a well-developed spur on its ankle. This spur is called a calcar.
Bala Bat's Daily Life
This bat loves to eat insects. It hunts for them very close to the ground. It usually flies only about 2 to 3 meters above the forest floor. Scientists think these bats likely sleep in leaves or inside hollow trees.
Where the Bala Bat Lives
The Bala tube-nosed bat lives in wet, evergreen lowland rainforests. These forests are found in the Narathiwat Province of southern Thailand. So far, it has only been found in the Bala Forest. This forest is part of the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary.
Why the Bala Bat Needs Our Help
The Bala tube-nosed bat is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. This is a group that tracks animals at risk. It means this bat is in serious danger.
Threats to Its Home
The area where these bats live is very small. It is less than 4 square kilometers. This small living space is getting even smaller. The main problem is habitat loss. This happens because forests are being cut down. People are clearing land for farming and other uses. This destruction of their home puts the Bala bat at great risk.
